The Mugen "Special Tool Set" is a lesser-known product from Mugen back in the day -- not many were sold. This kit features over 20 pieces, including combination wrenches, sockets, extensions, screwdrivers and lug wrench. Many pieces have a stamped or printed Mugen logo and folded up neatly inside a tidy carry case. We dig the color-coded screwdrivers -- red for phillips-head, blue for flathead.

Here is a classic from the archives. These humble and concise paragraphs summarize Mugen's origins (and is even written in first-person). The MF-318 was the first true Mugen engine. Designed in 1973 and based on the Civic 1200 block, this engine was extremely successful in both open and closed wheel catagories.

Here is the transcribed text:

MUGEN'S BEGINNINGS

In 1973 Hirotoshi Honda decided to start his own race engine manufacturing company with Masao Kimura. This sparked an interest in racing from a few people in Honda's Research & Development group. Working with Hirotoshi and without pay, we formed Mugen. We all had one thought in mind; to be involved in racing and to manufacture the best race car engines. Our first project was an engine based on a Honda 1200cc Civic engine. We either modified or completely remade everything on the engine, including casting the main bearing caps on the oilpan, in order to add stiffness to the engine, which is required for a Formula race car engine.

The engine was bored out to 1300cc and was entered in the Formula FJ 1300 Racing Series. The engine was very successful, the car won its first race. The success also sparked Honda to return to racing and new Mugen and Honda work side-by-side in many racing projects. Mugen has grown and is involved in manufacturing the highest quality racing and performance parts.

Engine Design Specifications:

Name: Mugen MF-318

Type of Engine: In-line 4 OHC 8-Valve

Displacement: 1273cc

Bore x Stroke: 73 x 76 mm

Compression Ratio: 11.0 : 1

Horsepower: 135 ps/8000rpm

Torque: 12.8kg-m/6500rpm

Carburetion: Keihin CR-35mm Carb

Ignition: From Honda Motorcycle

More goodies from the archives! Here's Mugen's BB4 Prelude, based on Honda's fourth generation coupe. You don't see these Mugen parts from the '90s very often today.

This is a classic print piece designed and distrubuted by Mugen, circa 1990. This tidy introduction gave the American market a glimpse into Mugen's reach and set the stage for the next decade.

Right-click the image to see a larger version.

Here is a photo round-up of the race car that started it all- the King Motorsports GT5 Civic 1200! 138hp at 8600rpm. Mugen close-ratio 5-speed. This unstoppable car won virtually every race, including the 1981 SCCA National Championship. Enjoy our archival pics!

The King Motorsports GT5 Civic 1200 at Road America in 1988. Back then our lap record was 2:46. Pretty fast for a little 1200!

Here's a cool vintage shot of the King Motorsports GT5 Civic at Blackhawk Farms Raceway in 1984. Back then there was no chicane between Turn 3 and 4. You really started to get moving before the braking zone in 4 with very little run off. Fun stuff! We held the lap record there for many years; 1:20 was the time to beat!

This is the iconic King Motorsports GT5 Civic on its way to winning the 1983 June Sprints at Road America!

This car would just about touch 8600 rpm in 5t in the dip at the old Road Atlanta which equaled 128 mph. This is really flying in a car with an 86" wheelbase. You knew when got a good run off turn 7 at Road Atlanta because the car would pick up a harmonic vibration that made the entire car buzz over 125 mph, right about at mid point of the dip. Hard on the brakes just before the bridge downshifting to 3rd. and then flat all the way from the bridge to the front straight, hitting 5th. at the start/finish line.

1989 Pocono Double National. Two wins and a new lap record! Crew Chief Randy Preiss takes the KMS Civic through impound.

Road Atlanta 1981 SCCA National Championship. The KMS Civic 1200 on its way to a GT4 championship!

1982 Road Atlanta Runoffs. Pabst Blue Ribbon was one of our sponsors that year. Before the Runoffs the motor home would be loaded with cases of PBR. This came in handy as a "bargaining tool" to get a primo parking spot in the pits. The Atlanta region SCCA loved PBR! :)

Loading up the crew for a victory lap at Road Atlanta at the 1981 SCCA Runoffs.

Racing factoid: King Motorsports built the first U.S. road racing Honda, including fabrication of every performance part.

We've partnered with Mugen for decades. Along the way we've been able to collect some very cool catalogs and images from a time period of Honda tuning that we personally love and focus on. Here are some of the pics we've posted on our Facebook page over the last year or so. Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook to see more!

Right-click and select VIEW IMAGE to see the full size versions.

Tubular artwork- rare Mugen exhaust manfold/exhaust system catalog circa 1996:

Mugen DA- awesome! Very few folks were interested in hot rodding these cars back in the day. Everyone was all about the CR-X and Civic. However the DA offered just a touch more sophistication- a great sports coupe! The parts list include the Mugen MR-5 wheels, special spoiler and steering wheel.

Mugen MR-5 2-piece wheels! Black with polished silver lip, silver Mugen spoke logo and polished center cap, rivets and lug caps.

The Mugen Civic "Ferio" 4-door. Talk about a sports sedan! Note the unusual placement of the Mugen livery under the black door trim.

Mugen EG Civic circa 1992. What a great car- B16, great gearbox, 4-wheel discs- way ahead of its time! Check out the lesser-seen NR-10 Mugen wheels with blue center caps.

Back in the day, slapping one of these on the back of your '84 CR-X was worth at least 10 HP. At least it did on ours! ;) Note the older non-italic san-serif font and lower-case "mugen power".

The first official USDM Mugen Competition Parts Catalog cover, circa 1985. Is that JDM Stig in the background?

Here is the catalog page for the body kit on the original Integra. Good to see Mugen had a sense of humor in its description of their decals: "Rumors of significant increases in horsepower resulting from the application of the Mugen Die Cut Decals should not be taken seriously ..." Right-click to view the full size image and read more.

Here's one from deep in the vault. This is a Mugen decal circa late 1970's!

Here is a shipping label from our very first shipment from Mugen as the "Sole Authorized North American Distributor." As we recall, the container itself was a work of art. It was a beautiful wooden crate that was so large and heavy three of us had to hang off the end of the forklift so it could lift the crate and not tip over! Among the contents were what would become our best sellers at the time- 86-89 Integra rear wings, CR-X and Civic exhausts and MR-5 wheels!

Here's one for you Mugen nostalgia buffs! A Mugen Genuine Parts Dealer decal, circa 1984. How many of these have you seen?

Catalog page for the MUGEN CR-X PRO.3 Del Sol (thanks Chris!)